Living Cost Compare
Billings

Montana

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Burlington

Vermont

$1,530/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,030 in Billings, MT versus $1,530 in Burlington, VT. Overall, Billings, MT is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,855 in Billings, MT and $68,854 in Burlington, VT — about 4% higher in Billings, MT. Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Billings, MT
Burlington, VT

Rent

Studio
$877
$1,284
+46% in Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$889
$1,275
+43% in Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,102
$1,731
+57% in Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$1,398
$2,002
+43% in Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$311,800
$400,200
+28% in Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$71,855
$68,854
+4% in Billings, MT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,060
$60,020
+22% in Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.1 yr
26.7 yr
+11.4 yr in Billings, MT
Homeownership
64.8%
39.8%
+25.0 pp in Billings, MT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.0%
60.5%
+23.5 pp in Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
16.7 min
19.2 min
+2.5 min in Burlington, VT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
750.2
497.1
+34% in Billings, MT
Property Crime
3,123.5
4,408.9
+41% in Burlington, VT

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
48.2°F
46.0°F
+2.2°F in Billings, MT
Annual Precipitation
13.7 in
36.8 in
+23.2 in in Burlington, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.29/gal
$3.86/gal
+10% in Billings, MT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.7
24.9
+70% in Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$8.77
$20.31
+132% in Burlington, VT

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Billings, MT
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.92
+6% in Billings, MT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.90
+6% in Billings, MT
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.19
+9% in Burlington, VT
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.69
about equal

Average prices — West vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MT / VT)
None
6%
+6.0 pp in VT
Income Tax (top rate)
5.65%
8.75%
+3.1 pp in VT

Billings vs Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Billings or Burlington?
Billings, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Burlington, VT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Billings than in Burlington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Billings versus $51,000 in Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, Billings or Burlington?
Billings is taxed under Montana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax); Burlington under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).